Nearly every community in the United States is home to families who have been separated—most often children from their parents—by our nation’s immigration detention system. The majority of immigrants are detained in privately owned and operated detention facilities, the number of which has increased by over 400% in the last decade. This growth is lining the pockets of the corporations, and shareholders, that own and operate detention facilities.
Due to the recent media storm and public backlash around immigrant family separation, foundations and other institutional investors, many of whom provide grants to communities affected by immigrant detention, are examining how their endowments are tied to this system. Many institutions are divesting from companies that own and operate these centers or profit from the larger industrial complex tied to immigrant detention. New York recently became the first state to divest its pension funds from private prisons and immigrant detention centers, following similar actions by United Methodist Church, General Electric, and college campuses including Columbia University and the University of California. Foundations that have divested from prisons include The California Endowment and Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Join us for a conversation about private immigration detention and explore strategies that institutional investors are implementing to separate their philanthropic assets from the companies profiting from private detention centers. Speakers will present a primer on private immigration detention, share their experiences with divestment strategies and highlight other ways to take action.
08/09/18 2:00pm — 3:00pm
Nearly every community in the United States is home to families who have been separated—most often children from their parents—by our nation’s immigration detention system. The majority of immigrants are detained in privately owned and operated detention facilities, the number of which has increased by over 400% in the last decade. This growth is lining the pockets of the corporations, and shareholders, that own and operate detention facilities.
Due to the recent media storm and public backlash around immigrant family separation, foundations and other institutional investors, many of whom provide grants to communities affected by immigrant detention, are examining how their endowments are tied to this system. Many institutions are divesting from companies that own and operate these centers or profit from the larger industrial complex tied to immigrant detention. New York recently became the first state to divest its pension funds from private prisons and immigrant detention centers, following similar actions by United Methodist Church, General Electric, and college campuses including Columbia University and the University of California. Foundations that have divested from prisons include The California Endowment and Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Join us for a conversation about private immigration detention and explore strategies that institutional investors are implementing to separate their philanthropic assets from the companies profiting from private detention centers. Speakers will present a primer on private immigration detention, share their experiences with divestment strategies and highlight other ways to take action.